Love's Embers (Canon City Series)

  Love’s Embers

  Canon City Series

  Lauren Marie

  Excerpt from Love’s Embers

  Charlie stood up so fast from his seat he almost stumbled on the hearth. He went to the

  other side of the room and crossed his arms. “You were supposed to wait for me. You promised to wait,” he shouted at her.

  Lark stood up with her fists clenched. “How long was I supposed to wait, Charlie? Five years, ten? Christ, was I supposed to become Miss Havisham and wear my wedding dress until I died? How long, Charlie? I was only fifteen. When we were eighteen years old and you didn’t come back, what was I supposed to do?” She saw a new expression on his face. “Let me guess, you never read Great Expectations? Figures. I thought we’d be able to once and for all put the past away, but even though you were counseled it would seem you’re still angry. I’m still angry. I guess it would be better to wait until tomorrow.” She turned and started out of the living room.

  Charlie followed behind her and in the hallway, grabbed her arm. She looked up at him, shocked. He spun her around and pushed her against the front door. They were both breathing hard and Lark could feel tears start to burn her eyes. She kept telling herself this was not June and Charlie wasn’t one of those men.

  Love’s Embers

  A Books to Go Now Publication

  Copyright © Lauren Marie 2014

  Books to Go Now

  Also published on Smashwords

  For information on the cover illustration and design, contact bookstogonow@gmail.com

  First eBook Edition –December 2014

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.

  If you are interested in purchasing more works of this nature, please stop by

  www.bookstogonow.com

  Look for Other Stories by Lauren Marie

  Love’s Touch - Then and Now

  Going to Another Place

  One touch at Cob’s Bar and Grill

  DEDICATION

  Love’s Embers is for my cousin Chip Davis. He started it. Thanks for the great idea, Cuz.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

  Thanks go to Jennifer Conner and the folks at Books to Go, Now, for the opportunity. It’s so great to be working with you.

  Thank you to Marilyn Miles for the great editing. Had and Was are the biggest pains in the behind.

  I must thank Mary Allen at American Gramaphone for all the crazy email questions and answers. I appreciate all the help. Mannheim Steamroller still rocks.

  For copies of Going to Another Place see www.mannheimsteamroller.com.

  Thank you to my friends and family for their love and support, too.

  Thanks, as always, to my reader, Elizabeth Ainsley, your help is always appreciated.

  I, also, want to thank Justin at Love’s Travel Stop on Highway 25 in Colorado. He answered a very important question for me.

  “Love truly happens once in life,

  as it did between us.

  I will find you,

  and we will flame again, forever.”

  Chapter One

  Thirteen years ago

  Sleep started to whisk Lark off to dreamland when she heard her window slide open and felt the bed move. She knew it was Charlie who crawled in beside her, but he lay on his back. She could hear him breathe hard and she sat up.

  “Ducky, what’s wrong?” She moved to turn on the light.

  Charlie reached over and stopped her. “Don’t turn the light on, Lou,” he whispered and called her by the nickname he used.

  She lay back down and reached over to him. Lark could feel him shake and thought he might be crying.

  “Oh Ducky, what happened?” She scooted nearer to him and put her arm across his chest.

  It took a little while for Charlie to settle down, and he finally turned on his side. He held her hand. “I don’t understand, Lou. I don’t think I’ll ever understand what I did that makes them hate me so much.”

  “You mean your parents?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Is you dad drinking tonight?” She put both her hands around his.

  “Yeah.”

  “Did he hit you?” Charlie didn’t answer, which gave Lark the answer. “You know, Gran wants to report them for hitting you.”

  “I know. I begged her not to do that.”

  “Why?”

  “If social services got involved they’d take me away from my parents. I‘d never get to see you or Gran again.” He was quiet for a time and then squeezed both of her hands with his. “Lou, can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure.”

  “Why do you like me?”

  Lark sat up and looked down at him. “Ducky, you’re my best friend in the whole world. You’re my hero.”

  He rolled onto his back. “I’m not talking about alien invasion, Lou.”

  “I know. Charlie Stone, I love you. I’ll always love you. You’re one of the good guys and I’m being serious.”

  Present Day -

  Charlie remembered so many conversations with Lark. He looked at the house and heard screams from his past. He wished it had burned to the ground and thought about doing just that. The sounds of slaps and furniture crashing rang in his head. He wanted the noises to go away. He wanted to be free from his past. He tried to remember the days he spent with Lark. The last time he saw her was the best day he’d ever lived. They’d gone on a picnic out in a field and played an extended game of War. Her hair was up in a ponytail and it bounced every time she laughed. Lark saved him so many times.

  As he glanced at the house he’d lived in until he was fifteen years old, he felt the ache of loneliness in his chest. He thought the only way to get rid of the ghosts was to face them head-on. He’d spent the last thirteen years alone and didn’t want that anymore. Would he be able to find her?

  He’d saved up every penny he could earn over the last thirteen years. He smirked and thought, Thirteen. Unlucky number. He’d finally made enough to buy the old...what? He couldn’t think of what to call this place. It wasn’t a home. It wouldn’t ever to be his home. He hated to look at it and thought he was nuts to spend money on such a waste. The price was low, and it looked like a mausoleum where only the dead walked. Would she accept him after what he’d done?

  There were so many times over the last years when he thought he should join the dead. His life turned into an endless road to nowhere. He owned nothing except his truck. He wanted to find life and love, again. He wanted...

  He heard a low growl and turned to look at his gray wolf, Breaker. The wolf held its head low and his fur was raised on his back.

  “Breaker, what have you got, boy?” he said. He looked toward the end of the driveway and saw an older woman by the mailbox.

  “Can I help you, mister? I live next door,” she said and pulled her coat tighter around her b
ody. “Nobody has lived in there for a long time. Are you looking for someone?”

  He felt a bit of warmth touch his iced-over heart. “Hey, Aurora.” He looked at her and saw her stare at the wolf. “Breaker, to me.”

  The sleek blond and silver wolf snarled and moved to his master, and sat by his feet.

  “I’m sorry, sir, but do I know you?” The woman took a couple of steps forward and stopped again. She looked at him and finally smiled. “Charlie, is that you?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “My Lord, but you have gotten tall.” She laughed.

  These days he called himself Chuck. He’d forgotten everyone in Canon City called him Charlie.

  Aurora walked closer to him. “I saw the lights from your truck. The house has sat empty for a couple of years. I thought I should be a nosy neighbor and make sure we weren’t getting squatters.” She took her glove off and held her hand out to him.

  Charlie took off his glove, too and shook hands with her. It almost caused his throat to tighten. He felt so happy someone remembered him.

  “How have you been, Charlie?” She grinned up at him and her eyes crinkled. She pulled him forward and gave him a grandmotherly hug. “When did you get so tall?”

  Aurora Metcalfe lived next door ever since he was born. Charlie could see she’d grayed a little more, but still had that sparkle in her eyes. She’d always welcomed him into her home and the best part was during the winter, when she made hot chocolate with marshmallows. He’d never been able to find any that tasted as good.

  “I can’t complain much. Things have been pretty good. I had a growth spurt when I turned seventeen, which I don’t think stopped until I turned twenty-one.” He smiled and thought, Except for all the crap from the past, I have no reason to complain. Why do I feel so empty?

  She nodded. “What brings you back?”

  “Well.” He laughed. “I bought the house. It surprised me how low the price was, but I saved up some money and bought it flat out. I’m going to start veterinary school next fall in Fort Collins. I felt I needed a home base.” He looked at the house over his shoulder. “It looks as though there’s a lot of work to do.”

  She looked up at the house and shook her head. “Some folks moved in a few years back, but they ran out of money for repairs and mortgage and then the bank foreclosed. You plan to live here and drive all the way to Fort Collins? That’s over three-hundred miles round trip.”

  “Yeah, I’m going to sell my truck,” he pointed at the Peterbilt semi. “I’ll get something way smaller and with better gas mileage. Hopefully, it will have a sleeper. I can drive up to Fort Collins on Monday, go to classes during the week and come back here on Friday night.”

  “So, you’re going to veterinary school in Fort Collins?”

  He smiled. “’Bout time, don’t you think?”

  “I remember how you took care of all those wounded animals. I’m glad you’re going to finally do it. Listen, it’s cold out here. Why don’t you and your pup come over and have a cup of coffee?” She wrapped her coat tighter again and blew on her hands. “The weather man says we’ll have another couple of storms move through in the next two weeks. There’s a possibility of a blizzard, but he wasn’t certain. It could move east and hit the mid-west more than here.”

  Charlie looked up at the house. “How about in a half hour? I need to go in there and see if I can find a place to crash overnight.”

  “You’re not thinking about sleeping in there? You’ll freeze.”

  “I’ve got a great sleeping bag and this fella.” He leaned over and rubbed Breaker’s ears. “He’s a natural heat source better than an electric blanket.” The wolf looked up at Charlie and woofed. “Aurora, coffee would be okay, but what I’d really go for this cold evening would be a cup of your hot chocolate. That’s something I’ve wanted for a long time.” He grinned at her.

  “You got it. I bet you want marshmallows, too?”

  “You know it.” Charlie watched her turn and start back down the drive. “Hey, Aurora?”

  She turned around quickly and put her hands on her hips. “Charlie Stone, when did you start calling me Aurora? You used to always call me Gran.”

  His eyebrows arched up and he puffed out a breath. “I used to call you Aurora when I was a kid and, also, Mrs. Metcalfe, too.”

  “Well, I’m not sure I can get used to you calling me Aurora. What was your question?”

  “I just wondered if Lark is still around?” He hoped he didn’t sound as desperate as he felt.

  “Sure, she still lives with me, for now, anyway. She went up to Denver on Monday for some business meetings and other stuff. She’ll be back tomorrow.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you in a bit.” He watched her turn the corner at the end of the drive and put his head down. Other stuff in Denver? What does that mean? he wondered.

  He remembered a hot summer day when he and Lark were twelve or thirteen. They sat by the Arkansas River and threw rocks into the water. That morning there’d been a terrific rain storm, but the sun came out and it warmed up. They’d spent the day running through the trees and both were soaked.

  “Hey Ducky, look at that,” Lark said and pointed down the river.

  He looked where she pointed and saw a complete rainbow stretched from one side of the canyon to the other. The colors were so vibrant. “Do you suppose if we followed it we’d find a pot of gold and some leprechauns?”

  She leaned against his shoulder. “I don’t know, but it would be fun to do with you. Will you always be my friend?”

  He’d moved his arm around her shoulders and put his cheek against the top of her head. “Of course, I will. You’re stuck with me, Lou.”

  They’d watched that crazy rainbow for sometime before it finally disappeared. Charlie remembered those as the best days of his life. He hoped he would be able to re-establish that friendship with Lark. She’d been so good to him.

  He looked down at the wolf. “Come on Breaker. Let’s see what messes we’ve got to take care of in our new home,” he said with sarcasm in his voice. Charlie opened the door of his truck and pulled a flashlight off the seat, then turned and headed to the house.

  Chapter Two

  Charlie sat down on his sleeping bag and watched the flames dance in the fireplace. He’d collected some wood from a stack in the back of the house and felt grateful it was dry enough to burn. The house was cold, dark and smelled as though a family of field mice, at some time in the past, made a home somewhere in the walls or basement. He’d have a lot to clean out.

  When he’d first opened the front door and stood in the entrance, he’d used the flashlight to look around. Breaker charged past him, but stopped and turned. The wolf whined and looked back at Charlie.

  “It’s okay, boy. Go snoop around,” he said and turned the flashlight to the left and then to the right. The left used to be the dining room. His family never ate any meals there, but he remembered his father sat at the table with his post office buddies, drinking beer and playing poker. He could still smell the cigar smoke and hear the men laugh and tell nasty jokes.

  Straight ahead, down the hallway was the living room and when he looked at the fireplace he almost threw up. He could hear the voices scream all around him and he wanted to back out of the house. Something deep in the pit of his heart said you need to do this. Just get it over with.

  When he looked into the dining room again, he could see his mother bent over backwards on the table. His father leaned over her with his hands around her neck. He screamed at her incoherently, as she struggled against him.

  He saw his fifteen-year-old self run up to his father, trying to get him to stop. He pulled at his father’s arm and tried to stop him from choking his mother. Finally he ran into the living room and picked up the poker next to the fireplace. He walked up to the older man, swung
the poker and hit him on the back.

  His father let go of his wife’s neck and straightened up. He turned, sneered at his son and swore he’d kill Charlie. He’d had it with this brat’s bullshit. As the older man moved toward him, the poker swung up again and hit his father on the side of the head. He went down hard and then Charlie dialed 9-1-1. The police came and...

  He started to cough and couldn’t catch his breath. His chest felt tight and he thought it would be just great if he was struck with a heart attack on his first night home. It took a few moments to shake the memory from his mind. He’d gone from room to room and found memories around every corner. He’d gone upstairs and found his old room. Looking out the window in his bedroom, he saw the Metcalfe’s house next door and smiled. There were better memories over there.

  After he unloaded his duffle bag, sleeping gear and Breaker’s bowls into the house, they’d traipsed next door and found Gran ready for them. She’d even set out a bowl of water and bits of people food out for Breaker.

  They’d sat in her warm kitchen and got reacquainted. She told him things that happened in Canon City in the last ten years or so. There was nothing too earth-shattering to report. After three cups of hot chocolate, two grilled ham and cheese sandwiches on rye and potato salad, she tempted him with a piece of apple pie.

  “Gran, I don’t think I could eat another bite.” He sat back and rubbed his stomach.

  “Well, I’ll send a piece with you. It’s cold enough in that house you shouldn’t have to worry about it going bad.” She asked if he wanted another cup of cocoa, but he said no. She sat at the table and smiled at him. “So, Charlie Stone, where have you been all these years?”